5 Perfect Date Ideas That Are SO Much Better Solo (NO Boys Allowed!)

Breaking up with someone can often be one of the most vulnerable periods of your life. It’s often a completely awkward adjustment phase where it can sometimes feel impossible to be alone. However, getting back to being the best version of yourself is exactly what you need to do to get back in the game!

Being your own best friend and your own great company can help you realize just how awesome you are. So, "date" and spoil yourself rotten! Treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated. It’ll be its own best reward.

Grab a fancy bottle of wine, some cheese and fruit, a blanket, and that book you always say you’ll make time to read. Then, throw on a sun dress and head to your nearest park to catch some rays. Being out in nature is good for the soul, and you’ll feel accomplished and at peace after reading even just a few pages of that novel (that nice little buzz from that wine won’t be so bad, either.)

Okay, volunteering is not a traditional “date” activity, but it’s something you should make time for at some point, and any time can be the perfect opportunity to do this. So, sign up to work at your local soup kitchen or animal shelter. Any type of volunteer activity puts things in perspective, and even though technically you’re going solo, you’re guaranteed to meet some great folks along the way, or at least dozens of adorable furry animals! This is a date guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Sometimes, it’s cuffing season and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, so on a cold night, throw on some sweats, whip up some hot cocoa, and get your Betty Crocker on. A good baking session and some quality time in the kitchen is the best form of self-love. Forget calories for a night, bake a whole batch of chocolate chip cookies, and eat as many as you want while you re-watch an all-time favorite movie.

Buy an overly expensive, delicious cup of coffee and get lost in a book store. It’s the best way to escape reality for a few hours. Read a guide book about that trip you’ve wanted to take or read the first few chapters of a ridiculous teen cult novel without feeling guilty about it. It’ll be perfectly peaceful and great “you” time.

You don’t necessarily need your own Patrick Swayze in tow to attend a pottery class (although it might be helpful). Taking yourself to a unique art class like painting or sculpture is a great way to unwind. Be your own Demi Moore from Ghost, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!

This article was originally published at Never Liked It Anyway. Reprinted with permission from the author.